Relapse after Alcohol Sobriety

If you or someone you love has relapsed after being sober for a long time, do not despair. There are Alcohol Rehab Centers in Cincinnati that have programs specifically designed to help with relapse situations. Call (877) 804-1531 for information on Rehab Treatment Centers that can help you get back on the sobriety track.

Relapse is defined as a return or slip back into a former condition after experiencing a change to a better state of being or a return to an illness after a period of recovery. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, ninety percent of alcoholics are expected to experience one or more relapses during the first four years after alcohol rehab.

Many people act surprised, feel varying levels of frustration or anger when an alcoholic experiences a relapse after being in recovery for a long time. They fail to recognize that the effects of long term alcoholism changes the brain of the alcoholic and makes them forever receptive to the use and abuse of alcohol. The former addict may also feel guilt or disappointment in their failure to maintain their sobriety. This is unfortunate because a relapse is usually a signal that there are current life issues that need to be addressed. It may also be indicative of the fact that coping skills once used to achieve and maintain sobriety are either being neglected or have been abandoned.

Relapse Triggers

There are many variables that contribute to a return to alcohol substance use.

Ignoring the possibility of a relapse is one of them. When someone act as if they are immune to the lure of alcohol addiction, they are more likely to put themselves in situations that encourage a relapse. Former alcoholicswho realize that they may always need help for addiction may be more proactive in their efforts to prevent it. Some relapse triggers include:

• Painful life changes such as a divorce or death of a loved one.
• Major financial reverses such as the loss of a job or income stream.
• Underlying mental or emotional illness that was left untreated.
• Changes in health or physical appearance that are not easily reversed.

Relapse Indicators

A relapse is not just a random event. The relapse process usually begins long before the relapse to alcohol use occurs. Knowing the signs may be helpful in preventing or stopping a relapse before it gets out of control. Some relapse indicators include:

• A reconnection with people and places associated with life as an alcoholic.
• Reminiscing about the old drinking days and what fun it was back then.
• Taking one or more occasional drink and being defensive about it.
• Spending more and more time away from people who are aware of your former addiction.
• Avoiding or missing alcohol support meetings.

Conquering a Relapse

It is important for the recovering addict as well as their loved ones and friends to understand that a relapse is not an anomaly. It happens to most addicts and can be viewed as a step back with lessons to learn about staying sober. A relapse could be signaling problems that have been ignored or gone untreated for some time. It can also be an opportunity to learn new and improved coping skills that will restore balance and renew the resolve to maintain sobriety.

If you or a family member is undergoing a relapse, it is important to seek the proper treatment early. There are many qualified Alcohol Treatment Centers that have the expertise to help you get past a relapse and deal with the issues that caused triggered it in the first place. Call (877) 804-1531 today for help finding treatment programs that will give you the support and resources to avoid relapses and overcome your addiction.